Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To twist about in a wriggling, snakelike motion; writhe.
  • intransitive verb To feel or exhibit signs of humiliation or embarrassment.
  • noun The act of squirming.
  • noun A squirming movement.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A wriggling motion, like that of a worm or an eel.
  • noun Nautical, a twist in a rope.
  • To wriggle or writhe, as an eel or a worm; hence, to writhe mentally.
  • To climb by wriggling; “shin”: as, to squirm up a tree.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To twist about briskly with contortions like an eel or a worm; to wriggle; to writhe.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To twist one’s body with snakelike motions.
  • verb To twist in discomfort, especially from shame or embarrassment.
  • verb To evade (a question, an interviewer etc).
  • verb figuratively To move in a slow, irregular motion.
  • noun A twisting, snakelike movement of the body.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
  • noun the act of wiggling

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Unknown. Perhaps imitative.

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Examples

  • When I recall the things I have done, the meannesses I have stooped to, I squirm and squirm and _squirm_!

    The Road to Mandalay A Tale of Burma 1884

  • Any sacrifice that makes me lose one crawl or squirm is foolish, — and not only foolish, for it is a wrong against myself and a wicked thing.

    Chapter 8 2010

  • Watching the right squirm is so much fun. “You don†™ t have the votes. .”

    Think Progress » VIDEO: Byrd Takes Frist To School 2005

  • KillCon 2006 says: watching the left squirm is fun. “You don†™ t have the votes. .”

    Think Progress » VIDEO: Byrd Takes Frist To School 2005

  • Any sacrifice that makes me lose one crawl or squirm is foolish, -- and not only foolish, for it is a wrong against myself and a wicked thing.

    Chapter 8 1904

  • Watching Republicans other than Sen. John McCain squirm when being questioned about torture in general, and waterboarding in particular — inventing extreme scenarios and talking about “simulated drowning” or a “little dunk in the water” — has revealed that torture could be a lollapalooza of a problem for many of the GOP’s 2008 candidates.

    Waldo Jaquith - “Waiting for the Guards.” 2007

  • I'm certain this charming flirty thing is just what she does, and she does it well -- but dear god she makes me squirm, which is the point of it I imagine.

    lily-white Diary Entry lily-white 2006

  • At least there will be a live video feed that will let the world see you squirm, which is something golf aficionados haven't witnessed on the course.

    BusinessWeek.com -- 2010

  • While her grilling of Geithner in September, over what members of Congress have called the "backdoor bailout" of Wall Street through AIG, inspired the "squirm" video, just last month Warren pressed Geithner on the administration's lackluster foreclosure-prevention plan, Making Home Affordable.

    Tim Geithner Opposes Nominating Elizabeth Warren To Lead New Consumer Agency 2010

  • While her grilling of Geithner in September, over what members of Congress have called the "backdoor bailout" of Wall Street through AIG, inspired the "squirm" video, just last month Warren pressed Geithner on the administration's lackluster foreclosure-prevention plan, Making Home Affordable.

    Tim Geithner Opposes Nominating Elizabeth Warren To Lead New Consumer Agency 2010

Comments

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  • My boss just used the word squirmy in an e-mail. Gotta love a boss like that.

    February 15, 2007